Japanese Navy NM# 3 questions

[mike rockhill]

Hello, this is my first post on this board, the fact that I am a japanese collector should clue you in to my purpose here. I was recently given a Japanese Navy marked NM #3, serial 911x (cant read last digit) it is an 1879 ahrens contract gun. The metal is about 60%, it is missing the grips and front sight blade and may need a cylinder stop spring. I wanted to ask what would the proper grips for this gun be, and where if possible can some be found( I prefer originals but may have to consider repops) and what cost may be involved, and where might I find a front sight blade and cylinder stop spring if need be. That part I have not examined in detail yet the stop moves but doesn't engage the cylinder. Below I have posted link below to my home board on the discussion of this pistol. If you scroll down there are some pics anyway any answers comments and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks japanese Navy NM#3

 

[mike rockhill]

Hello, this is my first post on this board, the fact that I am a japanese collector should clue you in to my purpose here. I was recently given a Japanese Navy marked NM #3, serial 911x (cant read last digit) it is an 1879 ahrens contract gun. The metal is about 60%, it is missing the grips and front sight blade and may need a cylinder stop spring. I wanted to ask what would the proper grips for this gun be, and where if possible can some be found( I prefer originals but may have to consider repops) and what cost may be involved, and where might I find a front sight blade and cylinder stop spring if need be. That part I have not examined in detail yet the stop moves but doesn't engage the cylinder. Below I have posted link below to my home board on the discussion of this pistol. If you scroll down there are some pics anyway any answers comments and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks japanese Navy NM#3

 

[reldor]

Parts: http://www.oldwestgunsmith.com/gunparts/american.htm

R.

 

[cgt4570]

Mike,

In addition to the serial on the butt, it should be stamped in several other places and be the same. So you should be able to figure out the last digit. It should be on the cylinder face, on the inside edge of the latch, on the barrel, between the latch notches, (and it would have been on the inside of the missing grip

).
As for grips, most of the commercial ones wore black hard rubber. Most of the military contract had checkered walnut.

Chris

 

[Win38-55]

From the other thread you mention that it has the spur on the trigger guard. If this is the case, it is not a NM #3, but a 2nd Model Russian.

 

[JimSupica]

Originally posted by Win38-55:
From the other thread you mention that it has the spur on the trigger guard. If this is the case, it is not a NM #3, but a 2nd Model Russian.

The NM3 was available w/ the triggerguard spur as an optional feature, and iirc, many (possibly all) of the 1st Ahearns Japanese Navy shipment had them. (I think the 1st JN shipment also generally has the non-standard 7" barrel & the wavy anchor markings).

All 2nd & 3rd Russians had them, but you often see them bobbed, especially on guns used in the American West or Tex-Mex guns. -- Jim

 

[deadin]

I had a 38-44 SA Target that had a spur, so the spur isn't only on the Russians.

 

[mike rockhill]

Thank you for the replies and the link, I will keep an eye on what he has. I am now a little confused as to what is the proper designation for this variation is with all the terms russian and american model being used here. I was under the impression that both were sold to japan, but I don't think I can tell one from another. Does anyone have a pic or a link to show what the grips look like. I also took the triggerguard off and found what I expected, that the cylinder stop spring is broken.

 

[JimSupica]

Mike, try posting pix here & we'll help you i.d. it. If you have detail pix of any Japanese markings, they will help too. -- Jim

 

[landbee]

Mike, I have serial number 548X from the first Ahrens shipment and it has smooth wood grips.
They are the same style as on the standard NM3 from the early issues. It also has the spur on the trigger guard and the acceptance mark from the Kure Naval base. I would post photos, but I'm not sure how to get them from my phone to the forum. I'm sure someone will have proper photos for you soon. In the meantime, you could check Flayderman's Guide for quick reference photo's.

 

[mike rockhill]

Thanks for your input on your example. I have looked at lots of pictures, and become even more confused. I am hoping to hear from more owners of comparable guns. Interestingly a book I have, has a copy of two pages from a japanese naval manual concerning this weapon, and they illustrate it as having the checkered hard rubber grips(the illustration also lacks the triggerguard spur)It may show a latter production piece. The manual was dated 1910 and It looks as if the japanese took shipments til 1908. They received 2nd and 3rd model russians, NM 3s, and NM3 frontiers. With so many variants its good to hear about a similar gun form the same era.